A place of pilgrimage, piety and miracles - over century since the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three young shepherds at the holy sanctuary of Fátima on this 12-day tailored trip through Spain and Portugal. Your pilgrimage will take you to Barcelona, the French medieval walled city of Carcassonne and Grotto in Lourdes. Follow the 9th century Way of St. James through Burgos and Santiago de Compostela - your journey culminating in Lisbon, a city of seven hills fearlessly facing the Atlantic.

Sightseeing Highlights

BarcelonaSightseeing with your Local Specialist includes the Ramblas and views from Montjuïc. Visit inside Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

BurgosVisit the magnificent French Gothic Cathedral of St. Mary

CarcassonneOrientation of this UNESCO World Heritage city

FátimaVisit the celebrated Shrine and experience Mass there

LisbonView Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries on your sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist

LourdesJoin the nightly Rosary and candlelight procession in this pilgrimage site

Santiago de CompostelaSightseeing with your Local Specialist to the main sites including the Cathedral

Dining

11 Buffet breakfasts

5 Three-course dinners

Unbeatable Features

Daily breakfast

Luxury air-conditioned coach

Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

Variety of Optional Experiences

An expert Travel Director and separate driver

All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes

Airport TransfersSpecific transfer information can be found on the airport transfers page

ITINERARY

1. ARRIVE BARCELONA (2 NIGHTS)

Welcome to Barcelona. After meeting with your Travel Director, you might like to explore Spain's most cosmopolitan city. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for an included dinner at the hotel. Meal(s): DinnerHotel: FontAir Congress

2. BARCELONA SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Your Local Specialist shows you the sights including the Ramblas, Plaza Catalunya and spectacular views of the city from Montjuïc. Visit inside Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. Enjoy free time to explore the city or join an Optional Experience to Montserrat. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast

3. BARCELONA – CARCASSONNE

This morning leave the bustling city of Barcelona and travel to the border with France. In the walled city of Carcassonne, our orientation will highlight the main attractions. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the finest medieval and preserved cities in France. See the well-preserved ramparts, castle walls, and drawbridges dating from the Middle Ages. Relax at your hotel this evening. Meal(s): Buffet BreakfastHotel: Kyriad Carcassonne Ouest - La Cite

4. CARCASSONNE – LOURDES (2 NIGHTS)

Travel today to one of the world's most famous places of pilgrimage - Lourdes. Every year, millions visit the Grotto of Massabielle where, in 1858, the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a local woman. Pilgrims can drink the water flowing from a spring in the grotto. Join the nightly Rosary and candlelight procession for a memorable experience. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast, DinnerHotel: Quality Christina

5. LOURDES SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Today's guided walking tour with a Local Specialist includes a visit to the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, the shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, the birthplace of Bernadette and her home. The afternoon is free to explore this little market town that became a world-renowned pilgrimage site during the 19th century. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast

6. LOURDES – BURGOS

Cross into Spain this morning and travel through the Basque region to Burgos. Visit this impressive city and its magnificent French Gothic Cathedral of St. Mary, where you will find the tomb of El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar), the 11th century military commander. Tonight enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast, DinnerHotel: Silken Gran Teatro

7. BURGOS – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (2 NIGHTS)

Your journey today will follow part of the route taken by pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, also known by the English name the 'Way of St. James'. The aim of pilgrims is to walk to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great, in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, north-western part of Spain. Many embark on this route as a spiritual journey. The walk between these two points normally takes pilgrims between two to three weeks to walk. On arrival in the city, a short orientation will show you the main sights before you check into your hotel. Meal(s): Buffet BreakfastHotel: Eurostar San Lazaro

8. SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

After a relaxed start, we explore the city with a Local Specialist. Visit St. James' Cathedral which is said to house the Apostle James' remains beneath the high altar. We then attend the Pilgrims' Mass before you have free time or an opportunity to join an Optional Experience to Cabo Finisterre, where religious pilgrims complete their walk and burn their robes. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast

9. SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA – FÁTIMA (2 NIGHTS)

Leave Spain this morning and travel into Portugal. A scenic drive through the magnificent Serra d'Aire Mountains brings you to the Shrine at Fátima, site of celebrated religious miracles made famous by the Virgin Mary's appearance to three shepherd children - Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia - on 13th May 1917. After a brief orientation, check into your hotel. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast, DinnerHotel: Fatima

10. FÁTIMA FREE TIME

This morning, experience Mass at the Shrine of Fátima. You will see the tombs of the visionaries, and the Chapel of the Apparitions. This afternoon there is time to explore on your own. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast

11. FÁTIMA – LISBON SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Today travel to Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. This great seafaring city is situated near where the Tagus River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. See the Hieronymite Monastery and the medieval quarter of the city before taking in views of the Belém Tower on an included sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. Enjoy time at leisure or perhaps join an Optional Experience to Sintra and the coastal town of Cascais. Tonight, enjoy a final dinner with your travel companions at your hotel. Meal(s): Buffet Breakfast, DinnerHotel: Olaias Park